Chosen Heart (45 page)

His mouth begins to suck along my
neck as his hands reach down cupping my breasts.  Gently teasing and
tugging, with his attention focused on the peaks of my breasts, a soft moan
escapes my lips.  “You’re going to make me late, Mr. James.”

“Then we need to make this
quick.”  Resting his forehead against mine, he sighs deeply.  “We
should have made love last night.  It always makes it easier for me to
sleep.”   

“Whatever it takes, Alex.  I
want to make it easier for you, day and night.”  With that, Alex’s mood
changes as he takes me against his shower wall. 

~~~~~

Arriving at work, my loins are
tender with every movement of my body.  Alex was very aggressive during
our morning shower.  It almost seemed as if he was pounding his aggression
away, using me as his very own sexual punching bag. 
Not that I minded.

To ease the pang of having to
take separate cars, Alex gave me the deepest, most sensual kiss goodbye.
 
He said it was to remind me of him all day long.  If that was the
case, mission accomplished.  I can still feel his lips against mine. 

I wasn’t too surprised when I checked
my e-mail and saw a meeting request from Arianna.  I figured she would
want to catch up and see how the conference went.  But, even as I read her
request for the second time, I have an eerie feeling that it might be
more. 
Stop being so paranoid. 

I’d be lying if Arianna’s mood
swings didn’t terrify me a little.  There’s been too many little
outbursts, even when I wasn’t involved, to make me cringe when I have to deal
with her directly.  It’s even gotten to the point that unless she approaches
me first, I try and avoid talking to her.  I hate feeling this way because
I’ve never felt like I couldn’t go to her.  Of course, when she approaches
me, it’s usually okay.  But, unless I know how her day is going, I don’t
even try anymore.  Already feeling on edge as I arrive at her office, it
doesn’t help matters when her secretary lets me right in.

I slow my pace as I walk into her
office, carefully closing the door.  Turning around, I’m frozen in time,
and space.  I can’t believe my eyes.  Her always done hair is
disheveled pulled into a messy ponytail.  The dark circles under her eyes
and the non-existent makeup give away the lack of sleep.  Her clothes…I’m
not even going to mention the lack of professionalism in her wrinkled pant
suit. 
What is going on, and where is Arianna Salerno, CEO of Salerno
Health?

Sitting behind her large desk,
she frantically signals for me to sit, and right now, I do as I’m told. 
With irritation written throughout her face she doesn’t hesitate, “Elyssa I’m
going to cut right to the chase and I expect an honest answer.  Do you
understand?”  Her brows raise and her eyes widen as she waits for my
response.  I nod, looking at her with confusion.

Arianna walks towards me and
leans against her desk, hands folded across her chest.  “I was told Mr.
James canceled his flight.  Do you know how he got home?” 
SHIT!

“I’m not sure…the last time I saw
Mr. James was at the conference Thursday morning.  He told me he had a few
things he needed to take care of and he would see me at work.” 
SHIT! 
She knows I’m not good at lying.  She’s going to see right through me.

Thankfully, the next question is
something I can answer honestly.  “Was he inappropriate in any way? 
You don’t have to worry about retaliation.  Whistleblowers are protected
here.”

With a resounding no, I tell her
that he acted nothing but professional the entire time we were in San
Diego.  “It was beneficial to my career to see him in action.  He
knows this business and everyone at the conference was quite impressed with him
and our company.” 

“I’ll have his ass Elyssa, if he
did anything to you or anyone else.  I have a reputation to uphold and
can’t have Mr. James literally fucking it up with his dick.  You would
tell me if anything happened, right?” 

“I don’t know what this is all about,
but I can tell you he did nothing wrong.  He was a gentleman and held his
own at the conference.  Nothing more, nothing less.”  Hopefully that
will calm her down.

“There’s nothing else you want to
tell me?” she questions, eyeing me suspiciously.

“No.  Arianna, I don’t
understand what’s going on.  Did I do something wrong?”  She is
abrupt and uncaring, which is not how she usually talks to me.  Other
people maybe, but me, never. 

“Not as long as you’re telling me
the truth,” her voice softens, as she retreats back behind her desk.  She
doesn’t sit, but rather looks out the window towards the strip, still trying to
reel herself in from the inquisition.  Smoothing back her hair, the
tension erases from her shoulders as her body visibly relaxes.  “Where are
my manners, I should have asked how the conference was.”  And there it
is.  Her ability to switch her moods on and off is distracting and
tiresome.

“It went well,” I stammer; my
heartbeat still erratic from her interrogation.  “The different sessions we
attended were educational and I’m sure we’ll be able to use some of the
valuable lessons here.  Oh, and we had dinner with the Barney Stephens and
Oliver Prescott from Britt & Sterne.  It seemed as though they might
be interested in doing more business with us in the future.”

Arianna discretely adjusts her
wrinkled shirt, possibly realizing she doesn’t have the best of
appearances.  “Really?  Well, that’s good news for us.  How was
Mr. Prescott?  He’s quite the charmer from what I’ve heard.” 
What’s
she getting at?

“Uh, Mr. Prescott
was…nice.” 
What else does she want me to say? 

“Well, maybe you’ll see him
again,” she responds smugly.  “I can always set up a meeting for you, if
you’d like?”

“I don’t think so.  Distance
is the problem in that equation.” 
And so is my boyfriend.

Turning to dismiss me, she admits
that she only came in to talk to me.  “I’m leaving for the rest of the
day, but if you need anything, or need to
talk
about anything, you know
my number.  I trust that you’ll use it.”

Standing to leave, I wish her a
great weekend and acknowledge that I do have her number.  I understand she
has a responsibility to ensure that her employees are acting ethically at all
times, but this is a bit much.  I’ve never seen her so agitated before. 
I wonder if she gives everyone the third degree after they go away for a
business trip, or is it because it’s me. 

Then again, maybe her and Carl
had an argument?  I haven’t seen him in such a long time and with him
being in such bad health, it might be trying on their marriage.  That, or
maybe stress from work is getting to her.  Either way, I can’t give her
any reason to be angry at Alex.  Returning to my desk I send him a quick
text, warning him about Arianna’s strange behavior.

**Arianna asked
how you got home from the trip. I told her I didn’t know.**

*Did she believe
you?*

**I think so.
She seemed upset-more upset than I’ve ever seen her. Not sure what’s up with
her.**

*Doesn’t matter.
Dinner tonight?*

**How about I
cook for you? Least I can do after you cleaned me so thoroughly this morning**

*See you at 7,
Hart.*

Either Alex doesn’t seem to be
worried about Arianna’s third degree or he knows how to handle her.  I
don’t know if either makes sense, but I dismiss any concern and dive right into
a week’s worth of voicemails and e-mails.  Throughout the day, I only give
myself a few chances to think about Alex.  But when I do, my mind wanders
to our shower, our trip home from San Diego, and the sweet words written in
melted chocolate over his heart. 
Love me…
  I sigh. 
God,
I do love him. 
I haven’t seen him since we left his house this
morning, but I’m sure he’s also catching up.  I know how many e-mails I
had to sift through; I can’t imagine how many he has.

Seeing as how I’ve been gone for
the past three days, I probably won’t win the most responsible employee of the
week award when I decided to leave work early.  I need to run to the store
and buy a few items for dinner and know I won’t have time after work.  You
know…priorities.  At least I was good and finished my backlog of work
before I perused the Food Network website.  I was excited when I found a
recipe for crab cakes, but got a little nervous when it looked almost too
easy.  I’ve never made them before, and needed something fancy.  I
figure, even if the main course doesn’t work out, we can still have chocolate
cake for desert.  It’s not out of a bottle, but it pays close homage to
our special night in San Diego.  Making a mental shopping list, I head to
the closest market. 

~~~~~

I finish cooking just in
time.  Alex said he would be over at seven, which gives me barely enough
time to freshen up.  Trying to make myself presentable, I’m combing my
knotted hair as my cell rings from the bathroom counter.  Anxious to see
him, I rush to grab my phone.

“Hi!  I was just thinking
about you.”  I can’t help the sweetness in my tone.

“I’ve been thinking about you all
day,” Alex declares, but his voice is shaky.  He sounds tired and defeated
after a long day.

“Are you almost here?  I
can’t wait to see you.”

“That’s what I’m calling for,” he
pauses, sighing.  “I have to cancel.”

“Oh,” my heart sinks. 
Besides slaving in the kitchen and hours of anticipation, I hate the thought of
not seeing him.  It surprises me the hurt I feel in my heart.  But
then the anger hits, “You’re really cancelling?  Twenty minutes before
you’re supposed to be here?” 
He better have a damn good reason. 
I
hate this; I hate being mad at him.  I’m sure there’s an absolutely
reasonable explanation, but at this point no excuse would erase the
disappointment I feel.  I want to pout like a child, and stomp my feet on
the ground, but again that damn rational side of my brain kicks in and whispers
in my ear. 
Where would that get you, Elyssa?

“I’m sorry.  I have to take
care of something.  I promise to make it up to you.”  There’s
sincerity in his tone, but something about his choice of words catches me off
guard. 
What are you hiding, Alex?

“Are you okay?  Is it
Nana?”  I try to change my tone to one of concern, but I’m not sure if it
worked.  I’m trying not to be selfish, but sometimes it’s hard when it
pertains to him.  But, I know I would feel horrible if I gave him a guilt
trip when the situation was of dire importance.

“She’s okay.  I can’t
explain things right now.  I’m hoping I can eventually, but right now I
need you to trust me.” 
Trust? What’s there to trust?  You’re not
telling me anything!
 
Crap, settle down, Ely.
  Closing my
eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to relax before I fly off the handle and say
something that I’ll regret.

“Fine.  I’ll trust there’s a
good reason.  But none of this hoping, you
will
eventually tell
me.” 
I hate this; I hate not knowing what he’s hiding.  And I
know he’s hiding something.
  “You’re still going to my sister’s house
with me tomorrow, right?”  I stumble, trying to keep my voice level and
calm, as I fume on the inside.

“Of course…I wouldn’t miss it for
the world.”

“Oh, but you’ll miss tonight?” I
growl. 
SHIT!
  Well there goes my effort at trying not to fly
off the handle.

“Elyssa, that’s not fair.  I
wish I was there.  You have to understand,” he begs, making it harder to
be mad.  Instead my ire turns into frustration and disappointment.

“I don’t know what there is to
understand, Alex?  You’re telling me you can’t come. You’re cancelling on
me at the last minute and you’re not telling me why.  And on top of all
that, I’m supposed to understand something?” I manage, annoyance seeping
through.  “I know you don’t do relationships, but this is like rule number
234 of the dating handbook.  You don’t cancel on your girlfriend twenty
minutes before you’re supposed to be somewhere, especially without giving a
reasonable explanation.”

Waiting for me to calm down, he
continues, “Elyssa, you trust me right?”

I sigh before giving in. 
“Of course I do.” 

“Then know that I’m thinking of
you.  Know that it kills me to cancel on you like this and know the reason
I’m canceling must be pretty damn important for me not to be there right
now.  Please don’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry Alex, I’m
disappointed.”  Disappointed, irritated and hurt, but mostly sad that I
won’t see him.

“That’s worse…” his voice trails
off.

“But, I trust you.  I’ll
give you the benefit of the doubt and see you tomorrow.”

“I really am sorry, Hart.” 

I hang up not wanting to discuss
the matter any further.  I really didn’t want to end the conversation on
such a sour note, but what was I suppose to say? 
It’s okay Alex, don’t
worry about my feelings.  Go ahead and keep your secrets and keep me in
the dark.  I’ll just be here with my legs open whenever you’re ready to
give me an ounce of your time.  No screw that! 
I stride towards
the dining room table garnished with flowers and candles and blow out the
flickering flames.